🏈💰 Youth Sports Business & Parent Insights
👀 We’re dropping something big tomorrow with our friends a Profluence Sports. Be on the lookout!
📋 Today’s Lineup
⚾ Ripken Baseball Crowns First National Champion in June 2026 with CBS Sports Network Broadcast
🏀 Brooklyn Nets Open 18,600 sq ft Youth Training Center with Shoot360 Tech Across from Barclays
🎯 Shoot 360 & US Sports Camps Launch Nike Basketball Camps Across Seven States
💰 The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation Launches Three-Year Grant Program Supporting Nine Youth Sports Organizations
⚾ Ripken Baseball Crowns First National Champion in June 2026 with CBS Sports Network Broadcast
Ripken Baseball will crown its first national champion in June 2026 after 20+ years of hosting regional tournaments. The move represents the first coordinated tournament series across Unrivaled Sports’ facility network since the company began consolidating youth baseball properties.
Tournament Structure:
- 16 teams (12U division) qualify through regional events at four facility networks
- Qualifying sites: Ripken Experiences, Diamond Nation, Sports Force Parks, Rocker B Ranch
- Championship location: Cooperstown All Star Village, June 30 – July 5, 2026
- Final game: July 4, 2026
- Registration opens: October 23, 2025
The tournament secures national broadcast distribution through CBS Sports Network for the championship game and select qualifying rounds. GameChanger will handle digital streaming for all remaining games while providing real-time stats and highlight delivery, addressing a common pain point for families who want shareable content from youth tournaments.
“Cooperstown has always been a special place for baseball, and now it will serve as the backdrop for a true national championship,” said Wade Martin, CEO of Baseball at Unrivaled Sports. “The Ripken Nationals will unite teams from across the country while giving kids and families memories that last a lifetime.”
Ripken Baseball selected the 12U age division to match Cooperstown’s traditional tournament demographic. Families view Cooperstown participation as a milestone in youth baseball, and by anchoring the championship at this location, Ripken Baseball connects its new series to established cultural associations around Cooperstown as a baseball destination.Subscribed
🏀 Brooklyn Nets Open 18,600-Square-Foot Youth Basketball Training Center Across From Barclays
Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment opened an 18,600-square-foot youth basketball training center on Flatbush Avenue, directly across from Barclays Center on September 25, 2025. The facility, which occupies the former Modell’s sporting goods store site, is the only youth training center in the tri-state area equipped with Shoot360’s immersive technology.
The center features eight interactive training stations (five shooting cages and three skill cages) currently used by most NBA teams and over 300 college basketball programs. The technology provides data-driven feedback during training sessions, addressing a growing demand for measurable skill development in youth sports.
BSE Global CEO Sam Zussman framed the facility as more than infrastructure: “This isn’t just a building. It’s a bold step in how we empower youth through sports.” The ribbon-cutting drew Nets owner Joe Tsai, co-owner Clara Tsai, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and players from both the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.
Brooklyn Basketball’s partnership with NYC Department of Education now reaches over 200 schools and 40,000 children annually through free in-school clinics. The new training center will host paid programming for ages 6-17, including after-school programs, weekend camps, all-girls programs, and advanced private training.
BSE Global views the facility as a fan development strategy during the Nets’ rebuild phase. “Your kid comes, says, ‘I want to watch a Nets game.’ Good luck telling him or her anything else, right?” Zussman told the New York Post. The Nets selected five first-round picks in June 2025 after finishing 26-56, making the roster “more relatable to someone young” as fans watch teenage players develop over multiple seasons.
🎯 Shoot 360 and US Sports Camps Launch Nike Basketball Camps Across Seven States
Shoot 360 and US Sports Camps are launching Nike Basketball Camps with Shoot 360 at seven locations starting October 2025, with expansion planned through 2026. The partnership integrates AI-driven shot analytics and real-time performance feedback with traditional coaching and live gameplay.
Initial locations span Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington:
- Naperville, Illinois
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Fenton (St. Louis), Missouri
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Beaverton, Oregon
- Leander (Austin), Texas
- Vancouver, Washington
“At Shoot 360, our goal is to elevate how players train by making development smarter, faster and more fun,” said Craig Moody, Founder and President of Shoot 360. “Partnering with US Sports Camps allows us to bring that vision to life on a larger scale, giving more athletes access to cutting-edge tools and an unforgettable camp experience.”
The camps combine expert coaching with technology-based feedback systems. Athletes participate in interactive drills, virtual competitions, and live gameplay while receiving real-time data on shooting mechanics, passing accuracy, and decision-making. The program is designed for athletes of all ages and skill levels.
US Sports Camps operates the nation’s largest sports camp network and holds the license to provide Nike Sports Camps programming. Shoot 360 currently operates more than 50 franchise locations across North America, Europe, and Asia. For Shoot 360, the collaboration provides access to US Sports Camps’ established distribution network and Nike brand affiliation. For US Sports Camps, the partnership adds technology infrastructure to its traditional camp model.
💰 The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation Launches Three-Year Grant Program Supporting Nine Youth Sports Organizations
Read more here…
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation will distribute $1.575 million over three years to nine youth sports organizations across major U.S. markets through its new Sports Matter partnership initiative. The program marks a strategic shift from one-time grants to sustained multi-year commitments designed to build organizational capacity alongside funding.
Each selected organization receives a declining grant structure: $100,000 in 2025, $50,000 in 2026, and $25,000 in 2027, totaling $175,000 per partner. The nine recipients are:
- Atlanta: L.E.A.D. Center for Youth
- Boston: Shooting Touch
- Chicago: Beat the Streets Chicago
- Durham: Bridge II Sports
- Houston: Houston reVision
- Los Angeles: Sloane Stephens Foundation
- Miami: Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade
- New York: Play Rugby
- Pittsburgh: Steel City Squash
“By committing to multi-year partnerships, we’re not just giving, but also growing with these organizations,” said Rick Jordan, VP of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “When we invest long-term, we’re able to show up consistently, build real trust and make a bigger impact where it really counts.”
Beyond direct funding, partner organizations will receive strategic guidance, visibility opportunities, and capacity-building resources. The Foundation plans to connect nearby DICK’S retail locations with partner organizations to deepen local community engagement.
The Foundation also renewed national partnerships with Every Kid Sports (registration fee coverage), Good Sports (equipment distribution), LISC (facility development), and DonorsChoose (educator support). Projects with LISC and Good Sports will concentrate on the same nine key markets, while Every Kid Sports and DonorsChoose partnerships operate nationwide.
The declining grant structure may encourage organizations to develop additional revenue streams and build capacity to sustain programs beyond the partnership term—addressing a common challenge in youth sports nonprofit sustainability.
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